The MPC-V: A Virtual Akai MPC

distortedtekno wrote:Ill-Green are you talking about the MINI-AK Software Editor that just came out? That caught my interest, even though I don't own one. I keep getting drawn back to this synth for so many reasons.... especially when I'm seeing them NEW for $279.95.

Yeah, they sent me an email about it, sounded real cool how you can organize settings and programs from the computer to the internal OS via USB. If they keep focus more on that direction of intergrating software with hardware then the future will be bright for Akai.

Ill-Green wrote:

distortedtekno wrote:Ill-Green are you talking about the MINI-AK Software Editor that just came out? That caught my interest, even though I don't own one. I keep getting drawn back to this synth for so many reasons.... especially when I'm seeing them NEW for $279.95.

Yeah, they sent me an email about it, sounded real cool how you can organize settings and programs from the computer to the internal OS via USB. If they keep focus more on that direction of intergrating software with hardware then the future will be bright for Akai.

Yeah I got the same email too and was really happy to see that editor. I love software editors for hardware synths. It's so much easier to create sounds on my Evolver since I bought the editor last year... I should've bought it a long time ago. This is gonna really take the MINIAK to new levels. I'm really having a hard time ignoring this synth. I love the build and the sound quality. So this editor and the sweet deals I've found have got me convinced that it's definitely more than worth it for a VA... and I'm very picky about VA's.

sensei wrote:

Askia Shaheed wrote:

sensei wrote:i just want someone to develop a VST that will open all of my MPC programs exactly as they are in a DAW, plus be able to convert MPC seq files to midi files. Which would require them to somehow convert the chromatic 16 pad function to proper midi info.

^ This is all I need!

Simple and awesome idea. A plugin that will open all MPC projects, songs, sequences, snd, wav, and any file type associated with the numerous MPCs over the years...and play back as oringinally programmed. The is no current plugin that can achieve all of this.

Either that or an MPC that saves natively in a popular DAW format such as what the Motif does (saves in Cubase format).

Imagine using your MPC they way you always have...then importing the project to a DAW to put the final touches on it. There are so many nice ideas presented in the forums by forum members.

I've had it in my mind for about 5 years. When I saw Ableton and Akai working together I was hoping it would happen.

They're foolish not to do it, because it would keep the MPC line alive.

Sketching on MPC kills anything else, so do the sketch beats there and then import it into DAW and do the arrangement and mixing in there.

Surely they can do this. I have no doubt. Get JJ on it.

If they built the mpc we are talking about (some kind of integrated mpc) with ability to export its projects to popular DAW format, then made sure that it was backwards compatible (like sensei idea ) with old mpc project files, pgms, seq, 16 levels, etc. IT WOULD KILL!! you'd gain both new customers and convert old customers. If users weren't worried about ditching thier old mpc's because of project compatability and the new one captured the essence of the originals but power of the DAW, you'd really be on top.

BUT as mentioned, the key to this is really really capturing that mpc workflow. That focal point of hands on making music mpc style. but taken advantage of the DAW.

distortedtekno wrote:

Askia Shaheed wrote:While that type of VSt would be awesome...I still want a new and improved MPC. There are alot of companies doing some amazing things. But every product I buy or test is always missing something.:

1. Kronos - GUI font is terrible, primitive sequencer, and sampler hasn't advanced beyong what we have seen in previous Korg products.

2. Fantom G - basic sampler...doesn't have the sampling technology found in the MV-8800, V-Synth, or even the Fantom X

3. Maschine - ok sampler/sample editor, barely adequate control surface, and MIDI capabilities that would be sub par by MPC 2000 standards

4. Motif XF - sampler is unnecessarily cumbersome

If I had a multi-million company and had the technical know-how, I would develop a product that would encompass the best of these products. Kronos' streaming sound engines, Fantom G's GUI, V-Synths sampling and sample manipulation, Mashine's plugin capabilities, Motif's file structure to include its ability to save natively in a popular DAW format (Cubase).....

The hardware would be a combination of the MPC 3000, 4000 and 5000. The MPC 3000 set the benchmark for quality. The MPC 4000 is also well built and has a better LCD design, nice data wheel, etc. The MPC 5000 and its numerous Q-link knobs and sliders are among my favorite features....

All of this is just my wet dream as this type of product will never surface......and be too expensive for anyone to buy.

You broke it down very well Jahrome! If I ever won the Lotto, you'd be one of the first people I would call.

Too expensive if its all condensed into one hardware unit. But if it was maschine style, it could be possible. no???

What about a maschine controller (but like you said, more like mpc build quality of 3k,4k,5k). Plus an integrated audio interface and full featured midi inteface..............but software on the computer.

like maschine but with a built in audio interface, mpc style software with all the features you mentioned?

what about jjos sequencer? you guys remember that? I know alot of people didnt like it because it was distracting jjos or whatever. but i always saw potential in it. It was a foundation to build something like we are talking about. obviously in need of some gui work, integrating controller, etc. but..........its closest thing so far.

cyrus wrote:what about jjos sequencer? you guys remember that? I know alot of people didnt like it because it was distracting jjos or whatever. but i always saw potential in it. It was a foundation to build something like we are talking about. obviously in need of some gui work, integrating controller, etc. but..........its closest thing so far.

Has anything besides JJ Sequencer ever been able to read MPC sequence files? Like you and Askia have said Cyrus, that's the key factor. RS-16X and Maschine/Battery read MPC PGM files, but is it a legal infringement (which obviously doesn't matter to JJ) to code an app that reads MPC sequence files?

Those couple iOS threads had a lot of us thinking the same thing, an Apple A4 chip and 256/512MB RAM is perfect to run the MPC OS, so it's not like this integration we dream is not doable. I think they could do a 5000XL that's close to what Askia described, maybe not all the Kronos type stuff though, to stay at $2000. (Still though, it's just HD space and code that's needed to do what Kronos is doing). I could even get excited by a compromise, like a 1000XL with full size pads and some kind of Virus TI integration directly involving the file formats.

Maschine isn't perfect but I feel like if Native Instruments would make a few additions/adjustments they could corner this market and to be honest I think this is their goal. So far I really like all the options Maschine brings to the table and I don't have any MAJOR complaints. It's workflow does take a bit of getting used to but once you familiarize yourself menus , "softkeys" and with the way the hardware and software work together it's easy to wiz around and do what you need to. I love the "hands on" aspect of Maschine...that is 99% of what I want to do can be done without touching the mouse. It's a solid product and with the 2.0 update coming sometime in the near future, hopefully we'll see some of these minor requests addressed.

Upright, I'm gonna have to call Multicore support a pretty major request at this point. I had Maschine at 90-95% CPU yesterday, but Task Manager had it at no more than 10%. (I have a dual quad). There's no confirmation if it will be in 2.0, and we should be able to use our cpu's properly in 2011. Are you killing your CPU with all the Komplete stuff?

Upright you know I like my Maschine, and the 2 shortcomings, MIDI and sampling don't bother me, because I've got hardware and Kontakt etc. I'm no fanboy about it, but it's crazy Akai didn't hire decent in house developers a few years ago, so they could get a piece of what NI's doing. I really think that's what it come's down to, they don't have good software engineers. Their MPC OS's (and their infrequent updates) along with the SynthStation app are all the proof I need of their lacking in this area.

You're right man....the multi-core support is a big one. I hadn't even thought about that. I'm running a 2.80GHz i7 and although I haven't pushed Maschine really hard I can definitely tell that Maschine is using more resources than say Reason or Sonar but it hasn't become an issue for me yet. I've had Maschine running with a couple of Komplete's VSTi's, a few compressors, EQ's and other such VST's and if I remember correctly Maschine's CPU meter was at about 30% or so and this seem to be a bit high to me. I agree that this is definitely one of the issues they need to address....and the sooner the better.

Load a few Massives, all hell will break loose.

LOL.....yeah no doubt. So far I have more or less used Maschine to get a foundation going and then I'll drag all the sounds/pads out and import them into Reason/Record and keep building from there..only because at this point I'm still more comfortable working in Reason. I bet building a full track in Maschine with a bunch of VST's would eat up the CPU pretty quickly.

Speaking of dragging sounds/pads out would be nice to see an option to export all sounds/pads as single files or whatever....anyway back on topic.

@distortedtekno
Remember you said that. I am going to hold you too it if you win the lotto.

The current state of our economy makes selling these high-end products tough. But I believe (or at least I hope) there is a market for the continuation of the MPC line. I simply love these products. I have never really been disappointed with the high-end MPCs. But Like I mentioned several times over the years, I am still waiting for Akai, Roland, Korg, or whomever to really put together a nice package while still maintaining the MPC workflow.

@cyrus
Maschine with an MPC control surface would be a "killer." I can't stand Maschine's controller. The controller can barely handle all the new functions NI has added. A new controller is a must...and not some lightweight toy. Yeah, you will hear across the forums that people want to make beatz on the go and need something light and portable. Ok. Then two versions of the control surface..one for travel and the other for studio.

@Metatron72
MPC 5000XL? That would be nice. OS 2.0 really gave the 5K a great foundation that I had hope would be built upon. I just think that it needed a more powerful processor and more RAM. Implementation of a few more feature requests and a little refinement to speed up the operational flow....it would be perfect. I would try to keep the price no more than $2000. $1500 would be a steal. MPC 1000XL has already been discontinued...that would be the MPC 2500....which could have been the real MPC 3500 if the craftsmanship was of a little higher quality. The MPC 3000 really is a well-built MPC.


@Upright
NI will need to do much more to actually corner the market. There are a lot of things Maschine and MPC users alike would like to see in future updates. It really doesn't have anything to do with workflow. It has to do with the sampler and MIDI sequencer. It’s just basic and doesn't add anything new or exciting. It can't even time stretch or pitch shift samples...real-time or offline. Pretty much all software and hardware workstations have these basic functions. Metatron mentions Akai's software team and what the OS of their MPCs lack...but overlooking that the MPC 5000 and 2500/1000 are all better samplers and MIDI sequencers than Maschine.

Askia Shaheed wrote:Metatron mentions Akai's software team and what the OS of their MPCs lack...but overlooking that the MPC 5000 and 2500/1000 are all better samplers and MIDI sequencers than Maschine.

Oh no man, I'm not overlooking that at all. I just see most of what Akai has done in the last 7 years as adaptations of what they inherited from the original company. Just taking guesses at what the Akai brain trust's malfunction is. They just don't seem poised to do something major software wise, and all this integration would rely on that. Like how we looked to Ableton as a possibility way back on this thread.

Certainly the weaknesses of Maschine you mentioned will have to get ironed out if they want to keep expanding the brand. I definitely want a bigger Maschine with faders, a jog wheel would be cool too.

Metatron72 wrote:

Askia Shaheed wrote:Metatron mentions Akai's software team and what the OS of their MPCs lack...but overlooking that the MPC 5000 and 2500/1000 are all better samplers and MIDI sequencers than Maschine.

Oh no man, I'm not overlooking that at all. I just see most of what Akai has done in the last 7 years as adaptations of what they inherited from the original company. Just taking guesses at what the Akai brain trust's malfunction is. They just don't seem poised to do something major software wise, and all this integration would rely on that. Like how we looked to Ableton as a possibility way back on this thread.

Certainly the weaknesses of Maschine you mentioned will have to get ironed out if they want to keep expanding the brand. I definitely want a bigger Maschine with faders, a jog wheel would be cool too.

The original company? The MPC 5000 has many functions never seen before in an MPC. And truth be told, all manufacturers of MPC-like products are creating adaptations of what the original Akai created. And this is not a bad thing. The MPC 4000 took the MPC line to an entire new level..and it didn't go over too well with long time MPC users...many of whom still use the MPC 3000.

Throughout this forum, I have shared every single thought I believe an MPC, MV, Maschine, etc should have. So what major function in the software do you personally believe Akai needs to make?


.........I was bored at work and compiled a list of functions that Maschine users want. Many of these are already possible in MPCs:

Maschine wish-list from NI forum (*some may have been recently implemented):
1. Multi-core support
2. Create and save individual drum kits
3. Full MIDI implementation (to include MIDI import/export, drag-n- drop to/from host sequencer, send program changes)
4. Note-off/Panic button
5. Sidechain inputs
6. Improved sample editor (more slicing options such as manual chopping, nondestructive shopping, scrolling playhead
7. More outputs
8. Timestretch/pitchshifting
9. More envelopes and LFOs w/ more assignable options
10. Arpeggiator, Sale, Chord features
11. Save all files to a single project file
12. Zoom in/out from controller
13. Faster load times
14. Pitch/Mod wheel support
15. Proper drum layering (independent filter, envelopes, pitch settings, etc per layer)
16. MPC Quantize (Swing, shift timing, quantize strength, swing per sound/sample))
17. Ability to save sounds as .wav
18. Drum Synthesis (Analog, Physical Modelling, etc)
19. Mixer
20. Eliminate one-shot sample playback in editing mode
21. External editor support
22. Fixed velocity option when recording note repeat
23. CC automation of MIDI out
24. Simpler process to nudge notes
25. Name/save files directly from controller
26. Mute/solo automation
27. Higher sequencer resolution (960 ppq)
28.. VST instrument rack
29. Add to iTunes function
30. Rex file preview
31. Support other sample formats (Sound Font, Battery, Kontakt, MP3, EXS, Acid, 24 bit sample imort?)
32. Snap to zero crossing
33. Full 64 bit support
34. More VST instrument and FX slots
35. Comprehensive drum maschine library
36. Write button auto-lock
37. Improved GUI
38. Convert stereo samples to mono
39. More looping options (bidirectional)
40. Full level and 16 velocity modes when in MIDI control mode
41. Vocoder
42. Maschine and Battery drum grid integration
43. 100% control of software from hardware
44. Rewire support
45. Shift lock
46. Better effects
47. Endless encoders support in MIDI mode
48. Bar/beat counter in software
49. Improved VST patch browsing, and organization
50. Ability to set loop regions in patterns
51. Renamin of macros and macro pages to personalize ea VST
52. Ability to use Maschine in any DAW as a VST without that DAW host computer owning and registering Maschine
53. Metronome volume control
54. Color code ea note in software to illustrate its velocity
55. Tempo changes
56. Easy way to delete double MIDI notes
57. Level meter for all sound points
58. Ruler, current location display
59. Better sequencer (multi patterns per group in same scene, linear sequencing)
60. Snap to grid on/off
61. Audio tracks
62. MPC sequence import
63. Sample purge function
64. Ability to see ofther sound formats when browsing extern disk
65. Automate samples/loops start & end points in real time
66. Easier way to install updates
67. Standalone version of Maschine (no PC connection)
68. Quicker way to add sounds to Maschine library

[quote="Askia Shaheed"]Throughout this forum, I have shared every single thought I believe an MPC, MV, Maschine, etc should have. So what major function in the software do you personally believe Akai needs to make?[quote="Askia Shaheed"]

I never said anything about specific functions of MPC's or Maschine other than agreeing with you that MIDI/sampling on Maschine is lacking. I couldn't have made it any clearer that what I'm saying I don't have faith in Akai's ability to all of the sudden start coding good desktop software. Some kind of software of VST/AU would have to part of this hybrid dream machine we're discussing on this thread. Obviously Akai's primary concern is selling plastic MIDI controllers. You've always given the 5000 fair honest assessments, and I know we agree it's nutty that it didn't meet or surpass certain specs of the 4000. To me that's an insight into how ambitious we can expect Akai to be. I got 4.5 MPC's (.5=Lined XL ), but I'm like you and would love to buy a truly modern MPC, as the concept still works.